[June 18, 2014](Reuters)
- T-Mobile US Inc <TMUS.N>
is hedging its bets by offering to buy spectrum from
smaller rivals in case the takeover by Sprint Corp <S.N>
falls through, the New York Post reported, citing a
source familiar with the situation.

The company has proposed to several carriers
offering to buy their so-called low-band spectrum — the key to
urban markets like New York City because it penetrates buildings
better than the high-band variety, the newspaper reported.
(http://bit.ly/1yhdZ5N)

T-Mobile has been at a competitive disadvantage as it does not
own low-band spectrum and it needs to act independently
irrespective of a merger, the report said, citing a source.

T-Mobile could not be immediately reached for comment outside
regular U.S. business hours.

SoftBank Corp <9984.T> which last year acquired Sprint, the No.3
U.S. mobile provider, has been eager to combine Sprint with No.4
T-Mobile, arguing that together they would give dominant players
AT&T Inc <T.N> and Verizon <VZ.N> more of a run for their money.

"Us becoming a more credible competitor in scale is something
good for American consumers and citizens," SoftBank CEO
Masayoshi Son said on Tuesday.

"Well, I'm not talking about if this or that. I'm just hopeful
that we become (an) effective competitor. I'm not making any
comments of, if, this or that," Son replied to a question on
SoftBank's fallback plan if the deal fails.

U.S. authorities have expressed a strong reluctance to the
possible acquisition, which will reduce the number of main
wireless providers to three from four.

T-Mobile may have to resell some of those airwaves if the deal
with Sprint is given a green light by regulators, NY Post quoted
a source as saying.